Searches (JCAB)

The School Board is the exclusive owner of all public-school buildings, desks, and lockers assigned to students and any other area of any public-school building or grounds specifically for the personal use of the students. The acceptance and use of SMP lockers, facilities, and the parking lot by students constitutes implied consent by the student and parent/legal guardian to searches. Therefore, the School Board authorizes school administrators to search these areas.

Administrators may also conduct random drug detection searches and metal detector searches of any student on a school board property, a school bus, or a school-related activity. Students shall remove all metal objects from their pockets and place the items in a designated area along with any bags, parcels, or containers carried by the student. If the metal detector is activated, the student will be asked again to remove any metal items. If the detector no longer activates, the search will be concluded. Should the detector continue to activate, the student shall be searched by authorized school personnel of the same gender in the presence of one other authorized adult. During this personal search, the items that activated the detector shall be confiscated. The search must continue until the metal detector is no longer activated. The School Board further authorizes school administrators to search the person of a student or his or her personal effects when, based on the circumstances at the time of the search, there are reasonable grounds to suspect that the search will reveal evidence that the student has violated the law or a school board policy. Such a search shall be conducted in a manner that is reasonably related to the purpose of the search and not excessively intrusive considering the age or sex of the student and the nature of the suspected offense.

Any student who refuses to cooperate fully with daily take-in searches, random searches, drug detection team searches, or searches as part of an investigation will subject to discipline as outlined in the SMP Discipline Matrix. This includes any search required for entry into any school-related activity.

Upon the seizure of any firearm, bomb, knife, or other instrument which can be used as a weapon and the careless use of which might inflict harm or injury or any controlled dangerous substance as defined in R.S. 40:961(7), the principal shall report the confiscation to the appropriate law enforcement officials and said confiscated item(s) shall be retained and secured by the school principal in the evidence bag to prevent the destruction, alteration, or disappearance of said items. The confiscated item(s) shall immediately be turned over to the appropriate law enforcement authority. All items seized may be used in school disciplinary actions if deemed appropriate by the principal.

NOTE: A student under the influence of alcoholic beverages or drugs, shall be deemed in possession of the respective contraband, and hence subject to the appropriate school/legal penalties. A written report of all searches and seizures shall be prepared and filed by the principal.